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REAL ID Requirement For Air Travel Postponed Until 2023

Associated Press

Enforcement of REAL ID restrictions are on hold again — this time as the federal government allows state agencies time to get back up and running after interruptions caused by the pandemic.

The debut of REAL ID-compliant licenses saw repeated delays in Kentucky as the state grappled with how best to incorporate the new federal security requirements into the licensing process. Then, COVID-19 hit, causing some bums in the rollout of services at licensing offices.

Now, the Deptartment of Homeland Security is giving Kentucky and other states another grace period, extending the deadline for full enforcement of the upgraded IDs for another 19 months.

Originally, all air travelers 18 and older would need a REAL ID-compliant driver's license or other TSA-acceptable form of identification to fly domestically starting in October. The new enforcement date is now May 3, 2023.

While the date may seem a ways off, Kentucky Transportation Secretary Jim Gray is encouraging anyone who needs, or will need, a REAL ID license to make a plan to get one now.

Josh James fell in love with college radio at Western Kentucky University's student station, New Rock 92 (now Revolution 91.7). After working as a DJ and program director, he knew he wanted to come home to Lexington and try his hand in public radio.
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